Iowa's domestic abuse law is defined in Chapter 236 of the Iowa Code. When the Sheriff's Department responds to a domestic abuse situation, the officer will attempt to identify the primary physical aggressor. Arrests are made after consideration of injuries, threats made, history of the persons involved, and circumstances of the incident. Iowa law mandates that police make arrests under certain circumstances.

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Definition of Domestic Abuse Under Iowa Law (236.2)

236.2 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this chapter, unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context:

1. "Department" means the department of justice.

2. "Domestic abuse" means committing assault as defined in section 708.1 under any of the following circumstances:
a. The assault is between family or household members who resided together at the time of the assault.
b. The assault is between separated spouses or persons divorced from each other and not residing
together at the time of the assault.
c. The assault is between persons who are parents of the same minor child, regardless of whether they
have been married or have lived together at any time.
d. The assault is between persons who have been family or household members residing together within
the past year and are not residing together at the time of the assault.
e. (1) The assault is between persons who are in an intimate relationship or have been in an intimate
relationship and have had contact within the past year of the assault. In determining whether
persons are or have been in an intimate relationship, the court may consider the following
nonexclusive list of factors:
(a) The duration of the relationship.
(b) The frequency of interaction.
(c) Whether the relationship has been terminated.
(d) The nature of the relationship, characterized by either party's expectation of sexual or romantic
involvement.
(2) A person may be involved in an intimate relationship with more than one person at a time.

3. "Emergency shelter services" include but are not limited to secure crisis shelters or housing for victims
of domestic abuse.

4. a. "Family or household members" means spouses, persons cohabiting, parents, or other persons related
by consanguinity or affinity.
b. "Family or household members" does not include children under age eighteen of persons listed in
paragraph "a".

5. "Intimate relationship" means a significant romantic involvement that need not include sexual
involvement. An intimate relationship does not include casual social relationships or associations in a
business or professional capacity.

6. "Plaintiff" includes a person filing an action on behalf of an unemancipated minor.

7. "Pro se" means a person proceeding on the person's own behalf without legal representation.

8. "Support services" include but are not limited to legal services, counseling services, transportation
services, child care services, and advocacy services.